How to Remove the Background Using a Layer Mask in GIMP

Last Updated: September 16, 2021

Need to learn layer masks? Using them in various ways can help you learn how useful of a tool they are. This article will show you how to remove the background using a layer mask in Gimp.

Steps

1
Open up your image in Gimp. This picture of a toddler will be used here.
2
Click on the brush icon and set it to a 'softish' setting. You don't want it to be too hard or too soft. This will keep your edge from being too hard so that your subject will blend in easier in whatever scene you might put them in.
3
Zoom in and start drawing around the subject.
4
When you think you are done, zoom out and check your progress. Look closely to make sure you got it all. You might need to resize your brush to get everything.
5
Continue until you have everything complete. What you are doing is creating a type of buffer between the subject and the background.
6
Click on the Free Select icon and draw around your subject again. It will be much easier now that the layer has been removed.
7
Invert your selection. Do this by going to Selection >> Invert. This will pick everything but your subject.
8
Be sure that your background and foreground are black and white.
9
Click on the Bucket Fill tool and fill in the selection. Be sure that your background is set to black. This should make your background disappear. If not, switch your background and foreground colors.
- You should be seeing your isolated subject by itself by now.
- If you notice a 'halo' around your image, it is because of the 'softish' brush.
10
Making sure your inverted selection is still active, select your eraser tool. Erase all of the halo. Since you still have your inverted selection, you can be as messy as you want. Only what is outside of your subject will be erased.
11
Apply the layer mask. If you want to save it, do that before you apply it.